An Approximate Method for the Acoustic Attenuating VTI Eikonal Equation

Abstract

SummaryWe present an approximate method to solve the acoustic eikonal equation for attenuating transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI). A perturbation method is used to derive the perturbation formula for complex-valued traveltimes. The application of Shanks transform further enhances the accuracy of approximation. We derive both analytical and numerical solutions to the acoustic eikonal equation. The analytic solution is valid for homogeneous VTI media with moderate anellipticity and strong attenuation and attenuationanisotropy. The numerical solution is applicable for inhomogeneous attenuating VTI media.